DOVEDALE'S Izaak Walton Hotel is to be brought back to life by a businessman whose family have stayed there for three generations.

The hotel closed down last year, leaving numerous couples who had booked weddings with no sight of their money and nowhere to hold their big day.

At a meeting in Nottingham last May, the hotel's owner, Thomas Day, met customers and administrators to agree to put the property on the market in an attempt to pay off creditors.

In total, the firm owed more than £1.6 million, of which £650,000 was owed to ''secured'' creditors who would have first call on any funds, such as the mortgagees of the building.

Geoff Cooksey and his partner, Sarah, were meant to be getting married at the venue just days before the closure.

The pair paid £5,000 to the venue but were lucky to have used a credit card, which meant they were refunded the money.

Mr Cooksey said: "While we were not left out of pocket our thoughts are with those who are.

"We are very happy that it has been sold.

"It was a very difficult time that led to a wonderful wedding day."

Selling agent Anthony Barnes, from Birminham-based property specialist Fleurets, which sold the hotel, said: ''The Izaak Walton has been a well-known and popular hotel and has attracted strong interest throughout the marketing and sales period.

''The new owner intends to undertake sympathetic restoration works to help bring the hotel back to life and to recover its country retreat character. He will be supported in the venture by business associate Andy Jeneson, with more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality sector.

''We are sure the relaunch of this Peak Park iconic country hotel later in the year will be widely welcomed and wish the new owners great success."

Ahead of the Izaak Walton's demise, Mr Day also tried to buy Ashbourne's Green Man Royal Hotel, when it failed to meet the reserve at auction.

It is understood Mr Day agreed to pay £400,000 for the St John Street venue and he announced plans in the News Telegraph to restore it to its former glory.

However, Mr Day's dreams never turned into reality after he missed the deadline for paying a deposit.

Shortly after the sale fell through, the Izaak Walton was closed and full details of its financial difficulties emerged.